House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 17 Apr 2000 (pt 20)

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Libel Awards

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions since 1986 the (a) damages and (b) costs awarded to a successful litigant in a libel action against a national newspaper have exceeded £499,000 in the case of (a) and £699,000 in the case of (b). [118909]

Jane Kennedy: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Community Legal Service (Dartford)

Dr. Stoate: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when a community legal service partnership is due to be created to cover the Dartford area. [118842]

Mr. Lock: The South Eastern Legal Services Committee will shortly be consulting on their plan for developing CLS Partnerships in the region. The plan proposes that CLS Partnerships should be rolled out in four phases. Dartford has been listed as one of the areas in the fourth phase. We hope that Dartford will form a CLS Partnership by spring 2001. If it proves possible to form a CLS Partnership in this area earlier, the Lord Chancellor will give serious consideration to supporting any such proposal.

CABINET OFFICE

Mr. Peter Wyman

Mr. Jack: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office in what (a) paid and (b) unpaid capacity Mr. Peter Wyman of PricewaterhouseCoopers has assisted Her Majesty's Government during the period 1987 to 2000. [117039]

Mr. Stringer: The names of the contract firms who carry out work for the Government would appear in official records, but the names of the officials from that firm would not necessarily be recorded. Mr. Wyman may, therefore, have carried out work for the Government on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers. There is no way of identifying the details without incurring disproportionate cost.

Correspondence

Mr. Watts: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will publish the latest figures showing the volume of correspondence received by Ministers and agency chief executives from hon. Members in 1999, the targets set for the replies and the replies sent within target times. [119663]

17 Apr 2000 : Column: 387W

Marjorie Mowlam: The 1999 correspondence figures are set out in the table. The table also sets out comparative figures for 1998, first published on 11 June 1999, Official Report, columns 403-05W. Members' attention is drawn

17 Apr 2000 : Column: 388W

to the footnotes which accompany the table and which provide general background information on how the figures are compiled.

17 Apr 2000 : Column: 387W

Correspondence from MPs to Ministers and Agency Chief Executives

1998 1999

Department or Agency Target set for reply (working days) Number of letters received Percentage of replies within target Target set for reply (working days) Number of letters received Percentage of replies within target

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 15 8,058 57 15 (28)7,021 60

Cabinet Office 15 292 96 15 552 (53)85

Crown Prosecution Service 15 66 88 15 (29)30 93

Department for Culture, Media and Sport 18 3,387 86 18 5,502 90

HM Customs and Excise 18 4,439 16 18 (30)3,009 38

Ministry of Defence 15 5,619 53 15 (31)5,488 66

Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency -- -- -- 15 17 59

Army Personnel Centre 15 43 96 15 42 84

Army Training and Recruiting Agency -- -- -- 15 11 82

Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency -- -- -- 15 15 100

DERA and Defence Diversification Agency 15 42 79 15 35 89

Meteorological Office -- -- -- 15 12 83

RAF Personnel Management Agency -- -- -- 15 13 100

Department for International Development 15 2,613 91 15 2,750 93

Department for Education and Employment 15 19,766 70 15 21,196 75

Employment Service 15 630 92 15 635 98

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions 15 38,059 51 15 (32)15,768 45

Driving Standards Agency 15 108 85 15 124 68

DVLA 7 453 99 7 855 98

Highways Agency 15 480 83 15 357 79

Marine and Coastguard Agency 15 21 100 15 22 91

Planning Inspectorate 8 286 87 8 (33)204 92

Vehicle Inspectorate 15 20 100 15 18 94

Foreign and Commonwealth Office 7 10,040 85 5 (34)11,921 74

15 9,453 47 15 (35)9,482 37

Department of Health 20 10,648 61 20 18,346 47

NHS Pensions Agency 15 42 74 15 51 84

Medicines Control Agency 10 37 73 10 70 68

Home Office 15 17,875 32 15 (36)16,826 (38)45

20 875 52 20 (37)877 79

Fire Service College -- -- -- 7 10 100

HM Prison Service 20 2,400 69 20 2,514 73

UK Passport Agency 10 181 96 10 703 35

Inland Revenue 18 6,305 20 18 (30), (39)5,872 49

23 193 100 23 (40)368 60

Valuation Office 23 47 36 23 24 81

Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers 15 291 80 15 (41)223 95

Lord Chancellor's Department 20 2,672 78 20 (42)2,038 82

Court Service 20 1,230 99 20 (43)898 79

HM Land Registry 20 36 100 20 (43)53 91

Public Trust Office 15 63 98 15 (43)42 95

Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments(44) 10 2,001 70 10 (44)1,897 78

Child Support Agency 10 104 87 10 (45)87 49

Compensation Agency 7 25 100 7 23 100

Environment and Heritage Service -- -- -- 10 14 100

Northern Ireland Prison Service 10 35 66 10 37 92

Planning Service 10 62 74 10 64 75

Rate Collection Agency 5 10 90 10 20 90

Rivers Agency 15 32 97 15 31 84

Road Service 10 35 97 10 26 69

Social Security Agency 10 70 93 10 116 97

Water Service 10 48 85 10 36 97

Office for National Statistics 10 679 88 10 (46)275 98

President of the Council's Office 15 230 88 15 151 81

The Scotland Office(47) -- -- -- 15 (47)105 72

Department of Social Security 20 19,330 31 20 16,555 66

Benefits Agency 20 2,797 56 20 2,033 70

Child Support Agency 20 8,365 100 18 5,661 98

War Pensions Agency 20 529 98 20 477 100

Department of Trade and Industry 10 22,193 50 10 (30)20,889 50

Companies House 10 38 100 10 19 100

Insolvency Service 10 19 100 10 22 86

Patent Office -- -- -- 10 (48)308 88

Radio Communications Agency 10 15 100 15 (49)39 97

HM Treasury 15 7,086 37 15 (30)5,322 44

Treasury Solicitor's Department 15 44 98 (50)10 (51)40 100

Wales Office(52) -- -- -- 15 (52)61 64

	1998	1999
Department or Agency	Target set for reply (working days)	Number of letters received	Percentage of replies within target	Target set for reply (working days)	Number of letters received	Percentage of replies within target
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	15	8,058	57	15	(28)7,021	60

Cabinet Office	15	292	96	15	552	(53)85

Crown Prosecution Service	15	66	88	15	(29)30	93

Department for Culture, Media and Sport	18	3,387	86	18	5,502	90

HM Customs and Excise	18	4,439	16	18	(30)3,009	38

Ministry of Defence	15	5,619	53	15	(31)5,488	66
Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency	--	--	--	15	17	59
Army Personnel Centre	15	43	96	15	42	84
Army Training and Recruiting Agency	--	--	--	15	11	82
Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency	--	--	--	15	15	100
DERA and Defence Diversification Agency	15	42	79	15	35	89
Meteorological Office	--	--	--	15	12	83
RAF Personnel Management Agency	--	--	--	15	13	100

Department for International Development	15	2,613	91	15	2,750	93

Department for Education and Employment	15	19,766	70	15	21,196	75
Employment Service	15	630	92	15	635	98

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions	15	38,059	51	15	(32)15,768	45
Driving Standards Agency	15	108	85	15	124	68
DVLA	7	453	99	7	855	98
Highways Agency	15	480	83	15	357	79
Marine and Coastguard Agency	15	21	100	15	22	91
Planning Inspectorate	8	286	87	8	(33)204	92
Vehicle Inspectorate	15	20	100	15	18	94

Foreign and Commonwealth Office	7	10,040	85	5	(34)11,921	74
	15	9,453	47	15	(35)9,482	37

Department of Health	20	10,648	61	20	18,346	47
NHS Pensions Agency	15	42	74	15	51	84
Medicines Control Agency	10	37	73	10	70	68

Home Office	15	17,875	32	15	(36)16,826	(38)45
	20	875	52	20	(37)877	79
Fire Service College	--	--	--	7	10	100
HM Prison Service	20	2,400	69	20	2,514	73
UK Passport Agency	10	181	96	10	703	35

Inland Revenue	18	6,305	20	18	(30), (39)5,872	49
	23	193	100	23	(40)368	60
Valuation Office	23	47	36	23	24	81

Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers	15	291	80	15	(41)223	95

Lord Chancellor's Department	20	2,672	78	20	(42)2,038	82
Court Service	20	1,230	99	20	(43)898	79
HM Land Registry	20	36	100	20	(43)53	91
Public Trust Office	15	63	98	15	(43)42	95

Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments(44)	10	2,001	70	10	(44)1,897	78
Child Support Agency	10	104	87	10	(45)87	49
Compensation Agency	7	25	100	7	23	100
Environment and Heritage Service	--	--	--	10	14	100
Northern Ireland Prison Service	10	35	66	10	37	92
Planning Service	10	62	74	10	64	75
Rate Collection Agency	5	10	90	10	20	90
Rivers Agency	15	32	97	15	31	84
Road Service	10	35	97	10	26	69
Social Security Agency	10	70	93	10	116	97

Water Service	10	48	85	10	36	97

Office for National Statistics	10	679	88	10	(46)275	98

President of the Council's Office	15	230	88	15	151	81

The Scotland Office(47)	--	--	--	15	(47)105	72
Department of Social Security	20	19,330	31	20	16,555	66
Benefits Agency	20	2,797	56	20	2,033	70
Child Support Agency	20	8,365	100	18	5,661	98
War Pensions Agency	20	529	98	20	477	100

Department of Trade and Industry	10	22,193	50	10	(30)20,889	50
Companies House	10	38	100	10	19	100
Insolvency Service	10	19	100	10	22	86
Patent Office	--	--	--	10	(48)308	88
Radio Communications Agency	10	15	100	15	(49)39	97

HM Treasury	15	7,086	37	15	(30)5,322	44

Treasury Solicitor's Department	15	44	98	(50)10	(51)40	100

Wales Office(52)	--	--	--	15	(52)61	64

Notes on 1999 figures

(28)

(29) Includes correspondence on the Intervention Board.

(30) Letters addressed to the Law Officers but subsequently replied to by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). In addition, the DPP received 228 letters direct from MPs in 1999 of which 94 per cent. were replied to within 15 working days.

(31) Includes all Ministerial replies, not only replied to letters from MPs.

(32) Includes letters from Peers and MEPs. Also includes 387 letters where Agency Chief Executives replied on Ministers' behalf.

(33) This figure includes only correspondence received between 1 April 1999 and 31 December 1999. 1998 and 1999 figures are not directly comparable, as a new data system now provides figures relating to letters received from MPs only.

(34) Includes 49 cases relating to Wales.

(35) General correspondence (excluding correspondence on migration and visa matters).

(36) Correspondence on migration and visa matters only.

(37) 15 working days is the target for all correspondence other than correspondence on Prison Service issues.

(38) 20 working days is the target for correspondence on Prison Service issues and takes account of particular geographical circumstances. The target is the same whether replies are sent by Ministers or the Director General.

(39) The Home Office's overall performance was badly affected by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's operational difficulties. Encouragingly, the rest of the Home Office achieved 72 per cent. of replies within target.

(40) Head Office figures.

(41) Local Office and "delegated" figures (where local officials have replied direct to MPs).

(42) This figure excludes letters which were subsequently replied to by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

(43) Excludes letters from MPs to Ministers where Agency Chief Executives have replied on Ministers' behalf.

(44) Includes letters from MPs to Ministers where the Agency Chief Executive has replied on Ministers' behalf.

(45) Figures for Northern Ireland Departments relate to the period 1 January 1999 to 2 December 1999, the date of devolution.

(46) In addition, the Child Support Agency received 308 letters on GB cases direct from MPs in 1999 of which 49 per cent. were replied to within the 20 working day target.

(47) Includes 214 letters where the Chief Executive replied on Ministers' behalf.

(48) The Scotland Office came into existence on 1 July 1999. Figures relate to the period 1 July 1999-31 December 1999. Figures do not include interim replies.

(49) Includes 301 letters where the Chief Executive replied on Ministers' behalf.

(50) Includes 16 letters where the Chief Executive replied on Ministers' behalf.

(51) The Treasury Solicitor's Department reduced its target in May 1999 from 15 working days to 10 working days.

(52) Includes 20 letters where the Chief Executive replied on Ministers' behalf.

(53) The Wales Office came into existence on 1 July 1999. Figures relate only to the period 1 October 1999--31 December 1999.

(54) The Cabinet Office performance was badly affected by the need for wide consultation on correspondence concerning "external" issues. On issues relating to Cabinet Office domestic issues, the Cabinet Office replied to 97 per cent. of letters within target.

(55) The 1998 figures are taken from the 11 June 1999, Official Report, columns 403-05W. Please also refer to the notes given with that reply. Departments and Agencies which received a total of between one and ten letters from MPs during 1999 are not shown in this table.

17 Apr 2000 : Column: 389W

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